Four years have flown by and our girls have grown so much! It’s time for a new family picture to capture this moment and reflect the changes. Our last photo feels like a distant memory, and we’re excited to celebrate our growth and make new memories. Stay tuned for our new family picture! Warm regards, Ilze. … More Four Years Later: A Family Snapshot Then and Now (?)
Yesterday we had a day off. Janis didn’t have to work and girls stayed home. Usually, they are in kindergarten. Two older siblings have compulsory attendance, so we can’t skip when we like. They are learning letters, read and write, count, add and subtract. This is the last half year in the kindergarten for Nelle. … More Walk and Fun in the snow
What is a mini-rally? Well, it’s the name of an amateur rally here in Latvia. Why am I writing about this!? Jānis is participating in it! He is co-driver: reading off a set of pacenotes to the driver. While he was 450 km away from home we (girls) had a PJ party! Girls are sad when Jānis … More Mini Rally & PJ party
Can’t believe the weather this year! It’s so hot and sunny for weeks! Haven’t rained or at least not in the daytime. Maybe few nights had rain but it wasn’t heavy for sure! Usually, it’s not that hot here in Latvia. Those who love warm weather are happy now. When I was in Salacgriva for … More Sunny & hot
It was sunny and summery weather here in Latvia today! +19C! Most of the summer days are +19C (OK, OK, just 1/4 of all summer days are +19C) here in Latvia. Since we experienced such a lovely weather I put away my computer and Bussines Plan and go for the walk! We didn’t walk much … More Sunny Sunday Walk
Yesterday Janis came back from Riga, work-related, and brought a big second-hand puzzle bunch which we bought on ebay.de! So, no doubt we opened the big box and started with 500-peace one. This morning we finished it. Girls like jigsaw puzzles and me too! Ilze
Things around me are getting crazy. I need more time, space, need to plan and do few projects… I’m taking days (up to two weeks) off from blogging. I just sat down for few hours to make scheduled posts for 8 days and now I’m saying goodbye for few weeks. Take care you all! Ilze
Girls stayed at grandparents house cause we had the date night (one in 4 years!). I slept only a few hours before girls came home from grandparents. I was tired and sleepy and tried to deal with dirty kitchen and dishes. Janis took two older girls out to have fun in the snow. After they came … More Yesterday’s PJ party
Someone made a big surprise and visited us on Latvia’s 99 birthday! Thank you, brother! We had a lovely time together. I made Anthill cake, cause it easy to make and don’t need an oven. I printed Latvia contour and assembled the cake to look like Latvia. Everyone liked it and it wasn’t that hard! Anthills … More Celebrating Latvia’s 99 Birthday
My old-time friend visited us this weekend. We laughed and cried the tears of joy together. Last time he was around here was at our wedding 7 years ago. After that, he visited us in Riga on one of my birthdays about 5 years ago, just before Nelle has arrived. He has been through tuff times … More A visit from a friend
Yesterday we were in procession for the first time! I was surprised how many people were there. Also, girls liked that and I think that this will be our new way how to celebrate “Lāčplēšu diena”. I was so taken away by all the candle lights and was amazed by all the people! Ilze
It’s been raining here in Latvia. I feel how changes our routine… time spend outside now is spend inside. Walks get shorted and fewer. I don’t like it! We all need to go outside and have a walk to be awake and in movement! Movement is life, health, and happiness. Life without movement stagnates and declines. It’s hard to … More Rainy days – walk
Sunset. Clouds and the sun. Walk. Time together. Love. Ilze
A small trip that made us smile. Made us happier, healthier and calmer. All cats need love – even old ones! A Lovely sunset at the end and all without crying went to bad. Summer, I love you! Ilze
If there is a sunny day we have a bike ride. And those sunny days are rare this summer here in Latvia. My mom visited us and we decide to go for a small bike ride before dinner. Girls asked for a picnic and that wasn’t a problem, as usual, I packed in few minutes. … More Saturdays Bike Ride
Jāņi is an annual Latvian festival celebrating the summer solstice. I know that solstice usually is on the 21 or 22 of June, but here in Latvia, we have public holidays on 23 June called “Līgo” and 24 June called “Jāņi”. I can’t imagine celebrating Jāņi in the city. It’s the celebration that requires a countryside. … More Jāņi is coming
I was a young girl… I wanted to make career and the reason was my family was broken. My dad was an alcoholic and my mom tries to pay bills and feed us. It was an interesting time and experience in my life. I knew that I need a good education to have a well-payed job … More I’m hurting myself
No way! After having a good time in Lich, we couldn’t head back home. It just didn’t feel right. We all felt like we need to travel a bit more…. just a bit more before we head back. We drive a bit down (away from Latvia) and stayed at a funny small city called Leidersbach. It’s … More No way! Leidersbach
Did laundry without losing a sock …. today was a good day! It was an interesting experience. And I can say it’s something that takes all day. We bought our portable washing machine for camper and tried it already while at home. It didn’t work as planned but I guess my expectations was higher than … More Laundry Day & Playground
Berlin. Oh. I am surprised! I can’t even describe my feeling. First of all – I haven’t been in a big city for a long long long time! These past 3 years living in the countryside made me country girl! Nelle met her godmother and we stayed with here. She tried to convince me to go out and … More Having fun & walk in Berlin
DAY 2 was …easy!? Our goal was to get through Poland in one day. It sounded unreal! We are going slow (80 km/h – otherwise the caravan shakes the car) and Janis isn’t feeling good. We started from Alytus, Lithuania and ended in Łozina, Poland at 2 am! We can’t go any further – it was … More 700 km in the car with the kids
Primula veris I love to forage for tea! When I was little we did it together with my grandmother – Agafija. I thought it was hard work. The basket was too big and flowers were too small or not enough. Yesterday I did it with my girls and their grandma (my mom) and suddenly I … More Foraging for Tea: Cowslip
Yesterday we packed first two suitcases for upcoming caravan trip… and packed two more bags for small get away to my hometown: Salacgriva. We decided to visit my mom and “change the decorations”. About Salacgriva: It’s a small town located near Gulf of Riga (Baltic Sea), close to Estonian border. See here. If you ask me – … More Hometown
This year my Easter bunny left sitting on the top of my vintage cupboard. This bunny is special. It was delivered to our home at the day when Linna was born. Why?! I don’t know. I was so carried away by the easter bunnies letter and all the activities for the girls, that decoration wasn’t … More Easter bunny
It was a wonderfull weekend with my beloved ones. My brother with his girlfriend came to spend some quality time with us & girls. My brother is our Nelle’s godfather. She adores him! We didn’t leave home all weekend. Stayed inside, chatting and chilling, playing and eating. Talked a lot and even tried to make a … More Weekend: Family time
We bought set of wooden blocks for girls to play a few years ago. They still use them when playing with other wooden sets but not that much anymore. I don’t like throw away toys (nor other things!). That old set has cubes in it and now it’s time to use them again. Since Nelle (will be … More Wooden Cubes Pattern set
Last two days are busy for me. My two bigger girls are having a day off from kindergarten. For them, it’s sleep til 9:30 am and having fun all day without napping! And going to bed at 11:30 pm. For me, it’s a had time especially when it comes when I’m not prepared! And by … More Who’s working and who’s having day off
We are getting ready for our FFTTTTE (First Family Travel Trailer Trip Through Europe… I should change it to Trailer Trip!)… That includes buying some books for me and girls. I ordered few cook books for me and activity books & cards for girls from BookDepository.com in a case of rainy days or long drives! I hope there … More Happy Mail Day #1
a day in the life of a latvian mom 